Self-cleaning switch



Feb. 9, 1943. c. s. PACKER SELF-CLEANING swITcH Filed Dec. 1e, 1940 INV ENT OR.

(II/III,

Patented Feb. 9, 1943 YUN-i'I'ED STATES PATENT GFFICE SELF-.CLEANING SWITCH Application .December 16, 1940,7Serial No. 370,293

(Cl. 20D-60) 1 Claim.

l,The'invention relates to electrical switches and has Ymore .particular yreference to a self-cleaning .switch for flash lights, battery signal lights, and other electrical 4apparatus of this general nature.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved switch structure which will be self-cleaning so that the contacts will make good electrical connection at all times.

Another object is to provide a switch having a reciprocating switch contact constructed and arranged so that the contact may also be rotated, whereby a wiping action i's'produced as a result of said rotation to maintain the contacts clean for making a good electrical connection.

With these and various -other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel features 'of construction Aand operation, as will be more fully described and 'particularly pointed out in the specification, drawing 'and claim appended hereto.

In the drawing which illustrates an embodiment of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts- -Figure lis a top plan View of a cap member for a lamp casing 'or the like having the switch of the invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view showing in detail the structure ofthe switch;

"Figure'S is a sectional View taken along line 3-3 of Figure `l showing the switch in ofi position;

Figure 4 is 4a sectional view similar to Figure 3 but showing the switch in on position; and

Figure 5 is la sectional View taken 'subst-an- 'tially along line 5-5 of Figure l.

Referring to the drawing, the switch structure of the invention is shown `in `associated relation vwith a cap-.member I [l for `a lamp casing such as 'a battery signal light or othersimilar apparatus.

The said cap member is substantially rectangular yin `form and includes a substantially at top portion II provided with Ya stepped periphery l2 and a depending ange I3. In Figure 2 the switch structure is shown in supported relation with respect to the tcp portion l I, the same having suitably secured thereto the rivets I4, which, as shown in Figure 3, receive a spacing member l5 to support an insulating disc i6 in spaced relation with the top I I. Both ends of the rivets i4 are similarly shaped, one end being beaded over the tcp II, whereas, the opposite end is beaded over the insulating disc I6. The disc supports a metal ring I'l of brass, copper or other suitable conducting material which forms one terminal of the battery circuit or other electrical circuit to be controlled by the switch structure of the invention. The rivets I8 suitably secure ring I'I to the underside of the insulating disc and as shown in Figure 2, three rivets may be employed, with one of the rivets additionally securing to the disc a terminal member 20. Said terminal member is provided with the opening 2l whereby the same may be connected with a wire or the like, and the rivet I8 secures said terminal member to the insulating disc I5 on the upper side thereof opposite the ring I'I. Said rivet in addition forms conducting means electrically connecting terminal member 2t with said ring.

The central terminal 22, which forms the other terminal of the battery circuit or other electrical circuit, is secured to the disc I6 by the central rivet 23. lt will be understood that disc 22 is substantially concentric with ring I'I. The rivet 23 additionally secures to the disc a switch terminal 24 in a similar position but on the opposite side of the insulating disc I6. Said terminal 24 may be oi copper or brass, or any other suitable metal for conducting electricity. Terminal 24 provides one contact for the switch, the other bev ing provided by the strip 25 of metal or other suitable material which is secured to the insulating disc I5 by one or more rivets such as 26. The strip 25 is disposed in spaced relation with respect to the central contact 24 and one end of the same overhangs the insulating disc to provide a terminal end having an opening 2l for receiving an electrical wire whereby connection may be made to contact 25 in much the same manner as terminal 2&1 has an opening for receiving a wire so that an electrical connection may be made with ring Il.

The invention provides a reciprocating switch contact indicated in its entirety by numeral 28 which in addition to having reciprocating movement for making and breaking an electrical circuit also may have rotation in order that the contacting surface may be kept clean. Said movable contact v23 includes a circular member having a substantially iiat tcp on which is disposed an insulating disc 28. The under side of the member is provided with diagonal surfaces 3E extending completely around the circumference of the member. The extreme bottom of the member is nat, providing a flat contact surface tl, Figure 5, and centrally thereof the same is recessed as at 32 to receive the base end of the actuating stud 33. On its upper end said stud is provided with the knurled linger portion or knob 34, which portion has movement within the slot 35 in the top Il when reciprocating movement is imparted to the movable contact 28. The slot 35 controls movement of the switch contact 28 so that when moved in one direction the switch contact will bridge the gap between the terminals 24 and 25 thereby electrically connecting the terminals. Movement of the switch contact in an opposite direction will of course open the gap to electrically disconnect the terminals.

It is necessary to yieldingly maintain the movable contact member 28 in engagement with the switch contacts 24 and 25 and for this purpose the stud 33 retains a coil spring 36 confined between the insulating disc 29 and a similar insulating member 31. The coil spring is thus retained under tension and since the insulating member 3l is in contact with the top portion Il the action of the spring is to maintain the movable contact 28 against switch contact 25 when in oi position and against both switch contacts Q24 and 25 when in on position. An important feature of the invention residesin the provision of stops in the form of projections 40 and 4I which are suitably secured in spaced relation to the Contact strip 25. The said projections are designed to coact with the diagonal surfaces 30 to provide stop means for holding the movable switch contact in either an on or an olf position of the switch, as shown in Figure 3, projection 40 is effective to prevent inadvertent movement of the switch contact 28 in a direction toward the left. It is necessary for the switch contact to move in this direction to assume an on position and accordingly positive pressure must be exerted by the operator on the knurled nger portion of knob 34 to cause the switch contact to move up over the projection 40 and into a position as shown in Figure 4. In Figure 4 the circuit from contact 25 to contact 24 is closed and the switch accordingly is in on position. The projection 4I in this case constitutes a stop effectively preventing inadvertent movement of the switch contact toward the right in a direction to discontinue the electrical connection. However, when adequate pressure is applied to the knob 34 contact 28 will move up over projection 4l and the same therefore requires a positive act of the operator to open the electrical circuit.

Movement of the switch contact 28 over the Y projections 40 and 4| was rendered possible by the resilient support of the said switch contact which permits movement of the same upwardly against the tension of the coil spring 35. This n mounting of the switch contact also makes possible rotary movement of the same and since this movable contact is circular, having diagonal surfaces 30 extendingaround its circumference the particular rotative position of the same is immaterial.

With the cap member in place on its lamp casing the ring Il is designed to make contact with one terminal of a battery such as a dry cell retained within the lamp casing. 'I'he central pole of the battery will contact the central disc 22. The circuit is completed to the light by the wires connecting with the members 20 and 25. It will be observed that the circuit is made or broken by the movable switch contact 28 which is reciprocable, being guided by the slot from an olf position to an on position and vice versa. As a result of the projections and 4l providing stops in the path of the movable switch contact 28 the same is releasably held in either of its two positions.

An improved feature of the invention resides in the provision of a rotatable switch contact which, by reason of its rotation, produces a wiping action to maintain the contacts clean and provide for a good electrical connection at all times. The knob 34 may be knurled to facilitate rotation of the member 28 and which may take place automatically as the member is reciprocated, or which may be rotated by a positive act of the operator. In either position the member is yieldingly held in engagement with one or both of the contacts 24 and 25 and said rotation will produce a wiping action on said contacts and a wiping action with respect to the ilat bottom surface 3l of the member.

The invention is not to be limited to or by details of construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawing, as various other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claim.

What is claimed is:

In a switch, the combination with a cap member for a lamp casing, of an insulating disc secured in spaced relation to the interior surface of the cap member, contact elements secured to the inner surface of the disc adjacent .the cap member including a central terminal and a peripheral terminal in spaced relation, a movable switch Contact of circular shape normally in engagement with the peripheral terminal, said switch contact having a diameter greater than the space between the central and peripheral terminals so that the switch contact may bridge the gap when moved to engage both said .terminals, said cap member having a slot therein and the switch contact having a rigid handle portion extending through the slot whereby the switch Vcontact is guided for movement to and from a gap closing position to electrically connect or disconnect the terminals, a plate carried by said handle portion and positioned in contact with the inner surface of the cap member to close the slot, resilient means encircling the handle portion and confined between the plate and the switch Contact for yieldingly biasing the switch contact in a direction toward the insulating disc, and means provided by the peripheral terminal for releasably maintaining the movable switch contact in either of its two positions. CHARLES S. PACKER.

v CERTIFICATE CF CORRECTION. l Patent No. ',5 1o,595. Y February 9, 1915.

CHARLES S. PACKER.

It is hereby certified that error appears :in-the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring. correction as follows: Page 2, first column, line ,50, for "an 'off' position of the switch, as shown in Fig" read 'an "off" position`- ln the "off" position of the switch, as shown in Figand that -the said Letters Patent should be read with this correotion therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Off-ice. v l

'signed and sealed this 20th day ofv A5111, A. D., 19M,v

Henryv'van ndale, v(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents,

I CERTIFICATE CF CORRECTION. l Patent No. 2,510,595. p February 9', 1915.

' CHARLES s. PACKER.

It s hereby certified that error appears inthe printed specification of the above vr11 .11x1`nered patent requiring` correction as follows: Page 2, first column, line 30, for an 'off' position ofthe switch, as shown in Flug" read -an "off" post1on`. in the"offl position of the switch, as shown in Fgand that -the said Letters Patent should, be read. with this Correction therein that the same may Conform to the record of the Case in the Patent Uff-ice. I

'signed and sealed this 20th day of April, A, D,y 19M,v

` Henryjvan Andale, (Seal) Acting (mummiasional'v of Patents. 

